Shukuen

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"Shukuen"
Single by Asian Kung-Fu Generation
ReleasedFebruary 8, 2023
GenreIndie rock, alternative rock
Length3:33
LabelKi/oon
Songwriter(s)Masafumi Gotoh
Producer(s)Asian Kung-Fu Generation
Asian Kung-Fu Generation singles chronology
"Demachiyanagi Parallel Universe"
(2022)
"Shukuen"
(2023)

"Shukuen" (宿縁, "Karma") is a song by the Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation. The song was initially released on digital streaming platforms on January 18, 2023, with the full single releasing on February 8.The song was used as the 12th opening theme for the anime series, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.[1]

It is the fourth time the band has provided music for the Naruto franchise, after "Haruka Kanata", "Sore dewa, Mata Ashita", and "Blood Circulator".[2]

On writing a new theme for the series, Gotoh joked in an interview with Billboard that the story has become "more complicated" than when he initially started reading Naruto in Weekly Shonen Jump. He also notes research is key when writing a theme song, and that he had to write this song without knowing the future of the story, though he hoped that "the main characters would overcome these obstacles thrown at them by fate" pointing out that the story would eventually circle back to a face-off between Boruto and Kawaki (which is how the Boruto series begins).[3]

The single has two B-sides, "Weather Report", which is sung by their guitarist, Kensuke Kita, and "Nissaka Down Hill", which is a continuation of the band's 2008 album Surf Bungaku Kamakura, with tracks named after stations on the Enoshima Electric Railway.[4][5]

Track listing[edit]

All lyrics are written by Masafumi Gotoh

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Shukuen" (宿縁 "Karma")Masafumi Gotoh3:33
2."Weather Report" (ウェザーリポート)Masafumi Gotoh, Kensuke Kita3:11
3."Nissaka Down Hill" (日坂ダウンヒル)Masafumi Gotoh3:59
Total length:10:43
Blu-ray (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION Tour 2022 "Planet Folks" at Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall 2022.7.23)
No.TitleLength
1."De Arriba" 
2."Senseless" 
3."Travelogue" 
4."Rolling Stone" 
5."Slow Down" 
6."Solanin" 
7."Kaihōku" (解放区 "Liberation Zone") 
8."Zai Jian" (再見 "Goodbye") 
9."Be Alright" 

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2022) Peak

positions

Japanese Singles (Oricon)[6] 14
Japanese Rock Singles (Oricon)[7] 1

Release history[edit]

Region Date Label Format Catalog Notes
Worldwide 18 January 2023 Ki/oon Pre-release of A-side track "Shukuen"
Japan 8 February 2023 CD KSCL-3419 Full release of single, including B-side tracks
CD+BD KSCL-3417
Various

References[edit]

  1. ^ "アジカン新シングル「宿縁」詳細明らかに、初回盤に野音ライブBlu-ray(動画あり)". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  2. ^ "Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Humbreaders Perform New Themes for Boruto Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  3. ^ Japan, Billboard (2023-02-08). "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION on New 'BORUTO' Theme Song 'Karma' & Modern Sense of Entrapment Reflected in the Series". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  4. ^ Japan, Billboard (2023-02-08). "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION on New 'BORUTO' Theme Song 'Karma' & Modern Sense of Entrapment Reflected in the Series". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  5. ^ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION『宿縁』/重なり合う足跡の先に-rockinon.com|https://rockinon.com/disc/detail/205423". rockinon.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  6. ^ "2023年02月06日~2023年02月12日 オリコン週間 シングルランキング 11~20位". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  7. ^ "オリコン週間 ROCKシングルランキング 2023年02月06日~2023年02月12日". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2023-02-15.